Display sign and method of construction



April 27, 1937. J. c. ADAMS 2,078,221

DISPLAY SIGN AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION Filed June 10, 1936 INVENTOR.JUL/HIV CHARLES ADflMS RNEY.

Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFli-ZJE.

DISPLAY SIGN AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION 4 Claims.

This invention relates to signs and more particularly to display signsand method of constructing same.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to make small signs, particularlyfor outdoor use, of a sheet of metal provided with a wooden framepositioned about the edges of the reverse side. Signs constructed in theold manner rapidly deteriorate under the influence of the weather andare often stolen and the wooden frames used for fire wood.

One of the objects of the present invention is to obviate thedifliculties encountered in the use of signs constructed in accordancewith the old practices.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of a display signwhich has reinforced marginal edges formed integrally with the bodyportion of the sign. This construction permits a sign to be fashionedwholly from a single piece of sheet metal and precludes any possibilityof deterioration of the sign due to loosening of the parts.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a display sign inwhich the marginal edges are inturned to form a frame and to provide aprotective shield to the legible portions of the sign as well as improvethe appearance of the sign by providing it with perspective.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sign which may beeasily assembled, economically manufactured and one which may be readilyfastened to the interior or exterior of buildings, orto posts, trees orother objects.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a method of makingsigns whereby the advertising or display elements may be readily andeconomically affixed to the face of the sign. The method contemplatesapplying said elements to the flat sheet of metal before it is formedwith marginal reinforcements, thereby effecting a considerable saving intime and labor since the display matter may be much more expeditiouslyapplied to a fiat sheet than to a sign of the usual form.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as thedescription proceeds.

The invention resides in the improved construction of the sign and inthe method of making the same, and in the combination and arrangement ofparts, the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out anddistinctly claimed hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is fully and clearly illustratedin the accompanying drawing, which constitutes a part of my disclosure,and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sheet of metal surface painted and having thedisplay elements applied thereto in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 and illustrates another step inthe construction of my display sign.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the completed sign.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated bythe line 44 of Fig. 3.

Referring now with more particularity to the drawing it will be seenthat I have shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the principal steps in theformation of my new sign. The sign is preferably formed from arectangular piece of sheet metal I ll. Before the display elements H areapplied, I first paint the surface of the sheet of metal with a coat oflight colored paint as at l2. Along the marginal edges of the sheet ofmetal I0, I leave elongated trapezoidal sections l3 unpainted, in orderto overcome the tendency of the paint to crack when the edges are rolledas hereinafter described. After the surface of the sheet I is painted asaforesaid the lettering and display subject matter is applied preferablyby printing, stenciling or screening. This step of the constructionprogram is facilitated by reason of the fact that the operator is stillworking on a fiat sheet of material and is not hampered by a frame orother elements which would tend to introduce bulk or added thickness. Itis possible, therefore, to utilize printing or other duplieatingmachines in this operation to increase the production of signs.

It is obvious that the procedure referred to above for painting the signand applying the display matter thereto can be readily and cheaplyaccomplished due largely to the fact that the flat sheet of metal isparticularly adapted to facilitate such work.

In Figure 2, I illustrate the next step in the construction of the signwherein the four corners of the metal ID are cut or sheared off as atIS. The four shortened marginal edges are then rolled inwardly, asclearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, to form a reinforcing frame It.It will be noted that the unpainted trapezoidal portions I3 (Figs. 1 and2) are completely covered from view; and the function of the cut offcorners l5' (Fig. 2) is now obvious. t will be understood, of course,that the section shown in Fig. 4 is merely one possible form which theframe 16 may take, other configurations being equally practical. In thisinstance the rolled over edge comprises a crimped portion 11 and asubstantially circular portion I8.

I prefer to paint the rear surface of the sheet of metal II! at leastalong the edges thereof an amount sufiicient to present a painted framewhen said edges are rolled over as hereinabove described.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have devised adisplay sign which is simpie and cheap to manufacture. Furthermore, the

rolled marginal edges IE not only give the sign the necessary stiifnessand strength but give it perspective and add to its appearance. My signis particularly Well adapted to replace ordinary small signs usedoutdoors because of its inherent strength and lasting qualities, but itis also applicable for many other uses.

Although I have herein disclosed a certain embodiment of the invention,it will be understood that various modifications may be employed,without Violating the spirit of the invention, all of which are intendedto be Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A display sign comprising a sheet of bendable material, the centralportion of said sheet being arranged to carry intelligible subjectmatter, the edges of said sheet being first bent and then rolled to forma frame about the intelligible subject matter.

2. A display sign comprising a sheet of bendable material, the centralportion of said sheet being arranged to carry a display advertisement,the edges of said sheet being first angularly disposed With reference tothe surface bearing the display and then rolled so that said angles areenclosed within the rolls.

3. A display sign comprising a sheet of bendable material having itscorners severed, the central portion of said sheet being arranged tocarry a display advertisement, the edges of said sheet being firstangularly disposed with reference to the surface bearing the display andthen rolled so that said angles are enclosed within the rolls.

4. The method of constructing a display sign which consists of providinga sheet of metal with its corners severed, impressing intelligiblesubject matter upon one side of said sheet, and then rolling themarginal edges of said sheet toward that side of the sheet bearing theintelligible subject matter.

JULIAN CHAS. ADAMS.

